How to Care about Risk, Inequality, and Caution

Lara Buchak (Princeton University )

Dianoia Annual Seminar in Ethics & Metaethics

Lara Buchak

Title: How to Care about Risk, Inequality, and Caution

Abstract: In decision theory, there is a standard strategy to deal with the phenomenon of risk-aversion. In social choice theory, there is a standard strategy to deal with the phenomenon of inequality-aversion. In formal epistemology, there is a standard strategy to deal with the phenomenon of being cautious in adopting beliefs. These three phenomena—risk-aversion, inequality-aversion, and caution—can all be described as “aversion to spread," and the standard strategies for dealing with them all as instances of the same general response, namely to hold that our concern for some value diminishes the more of it we have. I’ll argue, however, that a different general response is available, which in each of the three domains can better capture the phenomenon itself. By considering what we actually care about, I’ll distinguish between when we should use the standard strategy and when we should use the alternative I propose.

The presentation will be an hour, followed by an hour for discussion. The time for the event is: Wednesday 1 Nov, 18:00-20:00 (New York); Wednesday 1 Nov, 22:00-24:00 (London); Thursday 2 Nov, 9:00-11:00 (Melbourne).

This event will be held over Zoom. To receive the link and password, please register at https://tinyurl.com/DASEME23. For any questions, please email [email protected].